Connect to a FM server through a Linux gateway

[Mikepara]

Hi all,

I have a Linux box acting as a gateway for Internet connection. I also have

a Windows 2000 box hosting Filemaker Server.

I can connect on local network to the Filemaker hosted files, however i

would like to connect (through the Linux box) to the Filemaker hosted files

from outside our internal network. The filemaker box has a local network IP address.

I can connect to the Linux box from outside through a VPN, but i dont know

how to connect then to the Filemaker hosted files? is this something to do

with port forwarding?

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Thanks

Mike

[AudioFreak]

Hi,

We are using the Toshiba SG20 and for us once you connect to the server it's as simple as File>open>hosts. You may also have to specify the ip address of your server to see the files. Hope this helps cuz I know once I got it working it saved me a lot of driving.

Michael

[Garry Claridge]

You will need Port 5003 open.

All the best.

Garry

[Mikepara]

Thanks guys,

is that port 5003 on the Linux gateway or the Windows filemaker box?

umm and how do i open the port..

Thanks

Mike

[Garry Claridge]

I believe it would be the Linux Gateway.

I'm not sure how to configure Linux Gateways.

Good Luck.

Garry

[Mikepara]

Thanks

wondering if anyone could explain what is the difference between port forwarding and just opening a port?

Mike

[Jeff Spall]

Hi, my understanding is that 'port forwarding' on a gateway is the same as what I would call 'port mapping' - the gateway is set to forward *all* calls on a particular port to one internal IP address.

This is used when you have perhaps only a single registered IP address facing the outside world and want to host services, and also as a security device.

Using port mapping, you can have, say, the gateway forward all webserver calls to one computer and all mailserver calls to another. It could be used to point your FileMaker ports to one computer.

regards, jeff

[Mikepara]

Thanks Jeff,

certainly helped. So if I was connecting from outside to to my filemaker server, through a Linux gateway, i would need to set up the Linux box to allow me to access port 5003 (i think) on the FM server? would that be a correct?

rgds

mike

[Jeff Spall]

Hi, yes that's right but as I said I would want to limit that connection to allow only a known IP address list to access it. In that case you could allow the known IP addresses to access the IP address of your FMP server intstead of using ports.

I'd be very reluctant to open the port incoming to everyone!

Jeff

BTW one of the guys here has been doing a very similar thing between our office and a couple of remote ones, but we have been using the VPN soluion.

[Mikepara]

Jeff,

think you could ask your collegue how he set it up using a VPN? I also do not with to compromise security if possible.

Thanks

mike

[Jeff Spall]

HI, I'll get details on it and get back to you soon

J

[Mikepara]

Thanks Jeff

Mike

[Garry Claridge]

Generally accessing FM through a VPN is fine. I do this through a SonicWall VPN. The VPN will channel/tunnel all ports through its own.

Good Luck.

Garry

[Mikepara]

Thanks Garry, could you elaborate on th layout?

Also are you connecting direct to your FM server through a firewal or via a gateway?

Thanks

Mike

[Mikepara]

oops just checked Sonic Wall is a firewall..

(losing credibility fast ^^ )

M

[Garry Claridge]

As you found the SonicWall is a Firewall, and a VPN Gateway. The remote servers I communicate with also have a Cisco router as a Gateway. Hence, a long journey

The only ports we needed to open were those of the VPN. All other ports are "tunnelled" through the VPN Gateway.

All the best.

Garry